63 early - FI accelerator spring / color confirmation

[Daniel J.]

Working on my early '63 and trying to confirm what color the FI unit accelerator return spring should be and what / where to source paint.

Judging guide states that early cars "are painted gray" and later springs have "thin transparent medium blue" paint color.

Question 1: would December car be considered early for this item?
(if early) what shade of gray would be correct?
(if later) what shade of blue paint should be used?

Thanks in advance, Dan

[Jaime G.]

Re: 63 early - FI accelerator spring / color confirmation

Daniel, "early cars" are typically September-October cars. I think your spring should be painted blue. I dont know the exact shade but
its a medium blue.

[Alan D.]

Re: 63 early - FI accelerator spring / color confirmation

See this discussion


Michael Hanson (4067)
Extremely Frequent Poster

Join DateJanuary 29th, 2008Posts7,476

Re: 63 Fuel injection accelerator springs

Originally Posted by John DeGregory (2855)
Early '63 FI's used a silver/gray accelerator return spring. Actually the spring was originally use on '57 and '58FI's.
My question is this.
What time frame was the silver gray spring switched to a blue spring. Thanks very much, John



JD

The silver spring for early 63 FI cars was replaced in production with a blue spring on 25 Oct 62. This comes from the original NPC (notice of production change) that shows the exact date that the change occurred on the line.

Unlike dates in an assembly manual that are almost never the same as the date of the actual change on the line and can be off by weeks or even months. (the rear control arm pivot bolt on 63 comes to mind)

The springs were actually painted silver.

You are correct on the application too. The 7014730 (?) silver spring was the very same as used for 57 with FI.

[John D.]

Re: 63 early - FI accelerator spring / color confirmation

Blueprint says painted blue for ID purposes.
Who can supply us with the correct shade of blue? #2. Documentation on this blue shade
Please. Thanks. John

[Dave S.]

Re: 63 early - FI accelerator spring / color confirmation

Blueprint says painted blue for ID purposes.
Who can supply us with the correct shade of blue? #2. Documentation on this blue shade
Please. Thanks. John

John,
Sems to me that you know the right shade of blue........

[Alan D.]

Re: 63 early - FI accelerator spring / color confirmation

Daniel,
Since the change to the blue spring is dated 25 Oct 62 you should feel comfortable using the blue spring, yes left over stock probably got used during the fall of 62 - exactly when all the silvers got used up who knows. (Also got used for other things which would have depleted stock rapidly)

So having a copy of the NPC with you if color gets questioned should help.

As for shade of blue - I have my original spring with blue still on it, not much left and it's a lighter color than what is sold today, however that spring is now 56 years old so color fades, difficult to establish exact shade of blue unless some GM document specified a paint code (probably not)

[Dan H.]

Re: 63 early - FI accelerator spring / color confirmation

My blue spring on my 64 380 unit was put on by JD in 1992, were they still NOS back then?
Dan